Inside Politics Bonus: What to expect from the election campaign

Well, an election date has finally been called and we are staring down the barrel of a five week campaign before voting day on May 3. Here -  from the newsrooms of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald - we’ll bring you our humble podcast twice a week for the duration of the campaign. There’s goi…

Inside Politics: Peter Dutton’s speech, and let the election begin 

In this early episode of Inside Politics, we come to you soon after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave his budget reply speech on Thursday night, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all but certain to call an election on Friday morning. Did Dutton's speech, which moved to intensify the contest o…

America is becoming more like China. Is this Trump's end game?

Does Donald Trump have an overarching plan?  Lots of commentators have rejected this idea – Trump just does what he wants, when he wants, as the thought strikes him. But, says international and political editor, Peter Hartcher, many of his initiatives, or desires, share a common narrative. Today…

Budget 2025: Labor’s surprise tax cuts

With a federal election just around the corner, has Treasurer Jim Chalmers managed to help ease our financial pain without going on a spending spree, which would inevitably lead to being blamed for fuelling inflation? Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, speaks to Samantha from with…

What’s wrong with the Botox gold rush happening online

Cosmetic injectables, like Botox and dermal fillers, are a boom industry in Australia and running alongside this is easy access to telehealth appointments, which have led some people to getting injectables after a consultation with a doctor that lasts only 52 seconds. Today, senior reporter Henrie…

‘Never kiss the ring: How Canada is fighting Trump’

For months now, American president Donald Trump has been saying that Canada should become part of the United States.  At first, many treated it as a joke. But now, as Canadians might say, the gloves are off. Its leaders have hit back, forcefully. And Canadian comedian Mike Myers sparked a viral s…

Inside Politics: The budget drop-a-thon

Just as Treasurer Jim Chalmers puts the final touches on his pre-election budget, the local threat emanating from Donald Trump's global trade war is becoming clearer. Labor is boosting Australia's subsidised medicine scheme, but US big pharma companies want to boost their profits down under. Mean…

It's not only Trump, America's inequality is 'savage'

From the relative comfort of our distant homes, it’s easy to look at the United States, and the grotesque inequality its people suffer and wonder: how did that happen? But, it’s no accident. It’s by choice. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on the historical decisions made…

The tobacco tax causing carnage in our streets

A tax on tobacco has long seemed like a great idea, at least to the politicians who put them in place. It would deter smokers. And raise revenue at the same time. What could possibly go wrong? Lately, a lot. Because gangland warfare over illegal tobacco has been ramping up in Victoria. In February…

The subs that launched a thousand...questions. On board the AUKUS submarine

These are the submarines that have launched a thousand ships, or rather, reams of news stories and hours of debate in parliament.  Because they don’t just come with an eight billion dollar price tag. Each. They also come with some serious political baggage.  They are the infamous nuclear-powered …